The average British family will fork out an estimated £1,150 this Christmas.

But one savvy mother-of-three has spent just £20 on the big day including everything from presents to cards, decorations and her family’s entire Christmas dinner with drinks.

Aimee Moore, 43, from Scarborough, has spent the tiny sum on a luxury Christmas for her family – but has got £2,000 worth of food, booze, and presents including the latest children’s toys after taking advantage of coupons and cashback deals throughout the year.

Self-styled ‘coupon queen’ Aimee has spent the last year building up her festive haul – using special offers and amassing thousands of pounds’ worth of free cashback to give her family the ultimate Christmas.

Companies are prepared to pay substantial sums for the use of our facilities.

I worked for three whole weeks for which I received the princely (= very low) sum of $100.

booze (noun)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると” alcohol: “ と記載されています。

例文：

The party’s at Kate’s on Friday night – bring some booze.

Aimee – who is mother to sons Isaac, nine, Dexter, seven and Bertie, two – said: ‘Christmas used to be a very stressful time of the year for me.

‘In the run-up to the big day, I would be worrying about how I could afford everything. And by Boxing Day, I would be fretting about my card bills.

‘But now with couponing and cashback apps, everything from the must-have Christmas toy to the turkey on the table costs me next to nothing.

the run-up to something (phrase)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると” the period of time just before an important event “ という風に記載されています。

例文：

There’s so much to do in the run-up to Christmas.

To afford (verb)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると” to be able to buy or do something because you have enough money or time: “ という風に記載されています。

例文：

I don’t know how he can afford a new car on his salary.

I’m not sure how they are able to afford such expensive holidays.

We need a bigger house, but we just can’t afford the rent.

To fret (verb)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると” to be nervous or worried: “というふうに記載されていますね。

例文：

Don’t fret – I’m sure he’s OK.

She spent the day fretting about/over what she’d said to Nicky.

Don’t fret – I’m sure we’ll find the kitten.

Don’t fret, I’ll be fine.

There’s no point in fretting about things you can’t change.

must-have (adjective/noun)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると” something that is so exciting, modern, or useful that everyone wants to have it “ と記載されています。

例文：

The iPod quickly established itself as a must-have device.

the top ten must-have books for medical students

a must-have for new mums and dads

To cost (verb)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると” If something costs an amount of money, you must pay that amount to buy or do it: “ と記載されています。

例文：

The trip will cost you $1,000.

“How much will the trip cost?” “No more than £40.”

next to (phrase)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると” almost “ という風に記載されています。

例文：

They pay me next to nothing (= very little) but I really enjoy the work.

It’s next to impossible (= extremely difficult) to find somewhere cheap to live around here.

We got home in next to no time (= very little time).

After the company closed, investors were left with next to nothing.

‘So now when I see my kids’ faces light up as they open their presents or as they enjoy their lovely festive meal, I feel proud.

‘I know I’ve worked hard for that all year and I made it happen. And most of all, I’ve got nearly everything for free!’

The mother-of-three makes huge savings on her festive spending by sourcing special offers throughout the year, using coupons to get free products to save for Christmas Day and amassing cashback on apps which she uses to buy everything from gifts to food for the whole family.

light up (phrasal verb)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると” if someone’s face or eyes light up, they express a strong emotion, usually happiness or excitement “ と記載されています。

例文：

Rosa’s face lit up when she saw the dog.

Antony’s eyes lit up when Keiko walked into the room.

most of all (phrase)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると” to a greater degree than anyone or anything else “ という風に記載されています。

例文：

What I want most of all is to spend more time with my little girl.

The kids loved the fair, but they enjoyed the bumper cars most of all.

The kids loved the circus, and most of all the clowns.

save on (phrasal verb)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると” to avoid using something so that you do not have to pay for it: “ と記載されています。

例文：

It was a warm winter, so we saved on electricity.

Using eco-friendly light bulbs will help you save on electricity bills.

Keep your showers short to save on water.

To source (verb)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると” to get a product or basic material from somewhere “ という風に記載されています。

例文：

All our timber is sourced from sustainable forests.

These techniques have helped Aimee to get a staggering £1,960.57 worth of Christmas items for just twenty quid.

quidはポンドの別の言い方です。

Aimee explains: ‘I start planning for the festive period in January. If you make the time to do so, you can buy things like luxury Christmas crackers and wrapping paper for virtually pennies.

‘As well as looking for offers and checking prices throughout the year, I also use coupons which offer products like wine and even champagne for free. And I’ll save these under the stairs or in the attic ready for December.

‘But perhaps my biggest trick is cashback apps, which give you money back whilst you shop.

whilstはwhileと同じです。

‘I use a variety of different apps on my phone – some like Shopmium and Greenjinn which offer cashback in money, and others like Topcashback, MobileXpression and quidco that provide it in the form of Amazon or Tesco vouchers.

このいcashback in moneyはお金で返してくれるです。

staggering (adjective)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると” extremely surprising “ と記載されています。

例文：

It costs a staggering $50,000 per week to keep the museum open to the public.

Nursing care costs a staggering $15,000 per week!

the staggering success of the books

a staggering 63 per cent increase

virtually (adverb)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると” used for emphasizing that a statement is almost completely true “ という風に記載されています。

例文：

Their twins are virtually identical.

That wine stain on my shirt has virtually disappeared.

Virtually all the students live in university halls of residence.

Vaccines have virtually eliminated many childhood diseases.

It’s virtually impossible to get him to eat vegetables.

look for (phrasal verb)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると” to search for someone or something “ と記載されています。

例文：

I’m looking for Jim. Have you seen him?

Police were looking for clues as to the woman’s identity.

attic (noun)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると” the room in a house under the roof “ という風に記載されています。

例文：

I’ve got boxes of old clothes in the attic.

an attic bedroom at the top of the house

voucher (noun)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると” an official piece of paper that you can use instead of money to buy a particular product or service “ という風に記載されています。

例文：

a gift voucher

She has a voucher for a free swim.

‘Whilst I use the money from cashback apps on various household things during the year, I save up my cashback vouchers so I can spend them on my Christmas shopping.

‘They cover everything I need, from high quality presents to delicious food for the family! It’s amazing and really so simple once you get the hang of it.’

Aimee started couponing in 2013 and has become an online celebrity thanks to her ingenious money-saving tips – with her Facebook page ‘Extreme Couponing and Cash Back UK’ clocking up over 55,000 followers in under two years.

Aimee, who was able to quit her job as a warehouse supervisor to become a full-time mum to her sons through ‘extreme couponing’, said: ‘Three and a half years ago, we were skint and struggling as a family.

‘But through couponing and cashback, I’ve been able to save thousands on our bills per year and eventually I was able to become a stay-at-home mum to my kids.

save up (phrasal verb)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると” to keep money so that you can buy something with it in the future: “ と記載されています。

例文：

It took me months to save up enough money to go travelling.

She‘s saving up for a new bike.

She spent all the money I had saved up for our trip.

I’m saving up for a new car. 2

To cover (verb)

Macmillan Dictionaryの５つ目の意味によると” to have enough money to pay for something “ という風に記載されています。

例文：

We need £1,000 a month to cover the rent.

get/have the hang of something (phrase)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると” to learn a skill or activity “ と記載されています。

例文：

Skiing is not very tiring, once you get the hang of it.

“I’ve never used this program before.” “Don’t worry – you’ll soon get the hang of it.”

couponing (noun)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると” the activity of regularly using coupons to buy things at reduced prices “ という風に記載されています。

thanks to (phrase)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると” because of someone or something: “ という風に記載されています。

例文：

Thanks to this treatment, her condition has improved.

It’s thanks to Sandy that I heard about the job.

The baby is awake thanks to you and your shouting.

ingenious (adjective)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると” (of a person) very intelligent and skilful, or (of a thing) skilfully made or planned and involving new ideas and methods: “ と記載されています。

例文：

an ingenious idea/method/solution

an ingenious device for opening bottles

an ingenious engineer/songwriter

Johnny is so ingenious – he can make the most remarkable sculptures from the most ordinary materials.

clock up (phrasal verb)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると” to reach a particular number or amount “ という風に記載されています。

例文：

Dawson has clocked up 34 years as a police officer.

The Australians have clocked up three gold medals and two silvers in the swimming events.

skint (adjective)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると” someone who is skint does not have any money “ と記載されています。イギリスのスラングです。

例文：

I get paid each Friday, and by Tuesday I’m always skint.

‘I was getting lots of messages from friends asking me how I was saving money so it seemed easier to just put all my money-saving tips in one place.

‘I was shocked and pleasantly surprised when I started racking up thousands of followers on my Facebook page every month with my couponing advice!

‘One woman even came up to me in Asda and said ‘Hey, you’re the Cashback Queen!’

‘Couponing and cashback is definitely my passion and I love helping others get a bargain too.

‘It really is so easy to save money as long as you follow a few simple tricks and it’s also very rewarding.

‘And next year when Christmas comes round, you can give yourself a big pat on the pack when you realise how you’ve saved a fortune too!’

come round (phrasal verb)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると” come round or come around if a regular event comes round, it happens again “ という風に記載されています。

例文：

Christmas comes round so quickly!

a pat on the back (phrase)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると” praise for having done something good “ という風に記載されています。